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Molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from three hospitals in Israel was the aim of the study presented here. We identified 11 distinct genetic clones by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Molecular typing identified four different SCC mec types—I, II, IV, and V−and nine spa types. S pa type t002 was the most common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The recently described PFAPA (Periodic Fever, Aphthous stomatitis, Pharyngitis and Adenitis) syndrome is characterised by periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and adenitis. However, there are currently relatively few data on the natural history of this syndrome. Objective: To describe the presentation, clinical course, doctors awareness, therapeutic response and long-term follow-up of children with PFAPA syndrome. Methods: Children with PFAPA syndrome referred over a 5-year period (from January 1999 to January 2004) were enrolled in the study. Data were gathered from medical records, parents' interviews, physical examination and telephone calls. Results: 54 patients with PFAPA syndrome were evaluated. Our patients had a higher rate of abdominal pain (65%) and a lower rate of aphthous stomatitis (39%) than those in previous reports. Four different patterns of disease evolution were identified, including the relatively common (n = 14, 26%) and newly described course of alternating remissions and relapses. The remissions lasted 8.5 months on average (range 4-36 months). Diagnosis was established by primary paediatricians in 30 of 54 (56%) patients. However, a substantial delay in diagnosis was apparent (mean 15 months). Episodes were curtailed by a much lower dose of prednisone or equivalent corticosteroid (mean 0.6 mg/kg/day, range 0.15–1.5 mg/kg/day) than reported previously. Tonsillectomy was successful in the prevention of recurrence of further episodes in all six patients who underwent the procedure. Conclusions: We describe several new characteristics of PFAPA syndrome in children, contributing to our knowledge of this relatively unrecognised but troublesome syndrome. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can markedly improve the quality of life of both patients and families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to determine the impact of chickenpox on the general population, we conducted a retrospective study in four medical centres in central Israel. Hospital records of 182 patients discharged with the diagnosis of varicella during a 3-y period were reviewed. The patients' mean age was 7.9 y. A total of 14 patients (8%) were immunocompromised. Bacterial skin or soft tissue infection was the most common complication (32%). Other complications included gastrointestinal manifestations (14%), pneumonia (12%), febrile seizures (10%) and CNS complications (9%). Twenty-one percent of patients were discharged with the diagnosis of uncomplicated varicella. One patient died, one underwent liver transplantation for liver failure and four had persistent neurological sequelae. Forty-four patients (24%) received acyclovir for an average duration of 5.7 d. The mean hospital stay was 4.3 d; it was significantly longer for patients with CNS complications (8 d). We estimate that the hospitalization rate in Israel is 1/285 cases of chickenpox. While mortality from varicella was found to be relatively rare, the economic burden of this infection in Israel is quite substantial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the long-term effect of therapy with ciprofloxacin on haemopoietic cells, we administered ciprofloxacin orally in a daily dosage of 150 mg/kg/day in three divided doses for 11 days to syngeneic mice. A control group of mice was treated with saline. On the second, sixth, tenth and sixteenth day of ciprofloxacin therapy complete blood counts (cbc) and determination of haemopoietic progenitor cells (cfu-gm) from the tibial and femoral bone marrow were performed and followed by the transplantation of the bone marrow into lethally irradiated syngeneic mice. Bone marrow engraftment was evaluated ten days following transplantation by counting the visible colonies formed on the spleen surface (cfu-s) and by measuring the incorporation of 125I by the spleen and by the femurs of the transplanted mice. The results revealed that there was no statistical significance between the control and the ciprofloxacin treated mice in cbc, cfu-gm and cfu-s parameters. It is concluded that the suppressive effect of ciprofloxacin on haemopoietic cells appears only with very high concentrations of ciprofloxacin and is short-term and reversible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the in-vivo effect of ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin on bone marrow engraftment in mice, irradiated mice were transplanted with bone marrow graft (5 × 10 cells/mouse) obtained from syngeneic mice. Three groups of mice (30 mice in each) received a bone marrow graft incubated for 1 h with ciprofloxacin at concentrations of 0·5, 5 and 50 mg/l. Six additional groups (30 mice in each) were treated twice daily after transplantation with intra-peritoneal injections of ciprofloxacin in dosages of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/24 h or pefloxacin in dosages of 10 and 100 mg/kg/24 h. Evaluation of bone marrow engraftment was performed in animals injected with I Iodo-deoxyuridine (0·5μCi/mouse) by radioactive counting of the entire spleen and also by counting visible colonies on the spleen surface. The results of this study demonstrate a statistically significant depression of bone marrow graft uptake (<0·05, student -test) in mice treated twice daily with ciprofloxacin in dosage of 100 mg/kg/24 h, a concentration far beyond the therapeutic range. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We present four children with benign paroxymsal torticollis (BPT) and a review of the literature. BPT appears to be a self-Iimited disorder that occurs predominantly in females. The attacks of head tilting usually start in infancy, may recur at varying intervals until the age of 1 to 5 years, and may be confused with other seizures. Other symptoms, such a ataxia and vomiting, may be associated with the attacks of torticollis. Less frequently, infantile migraine also may be associated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]